Koalas pick nicknames with local flavour

Cantik the koala (left) shows off its new Singaporean nickname during a name selection ceremony held at the Singapore Zoo. The koala and its companions picked their new monikers yesterday by choosing between two stalks of eucalyptus leaves with name tags attached (right). Cantik means "beautiful" in Malay. The three other koalas chose Sayang, Nila and Manja as their new local names. The female marsupials - formerly known as Chan, Idalia, Paddle and Pellita - are on loan from Australia as a gift to celebrate Singapore's 50 years of independence and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 06, 2015, with the headline 'Koalas pick nicknames with local flavour'. Print Edition | Subscribe

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